Self-catering at its best
Thistle Holiday Home Caravans

Top-class Self-catering at Affordable Prices

Thistle Holiday Home Parks are visited each year by VisitScotland so that the star grading can be assigned.  An in-depth check of the caravan park is carried out, so you can be sure that four stars really do mean "excellent" and that five stars mean "exceptional".   All Thistle  caravans have to be of a high standard and match certain criteria.  Parks are designated either (a) a Small Holiday Park or (b) a Holiday Park.   A Small Holiday Park will have fewer pitches and caravans and the Holiday Parks may also have more leisure facilities.

What you get:  Thistle caravans have a good-sized lounge, open plan with a kitchen and a dining area;  the kitchen is fully equipped, with a cooker, a fridge and perhaps a microwave. There are two or three bedrooms (with twin or double beds); one may be en suite.  Bed linen is normally provided, perhaps at an extra cost, but please ask when booking, but usually you have to bring your own towels. There is a shower and/or a bath, and a toilet. Thistle Homes are fully heated and double-glazed, so cosy on crisp autumn days. They are owned, mantained and cleaned by the park-owners, so you can be sure they are kept in top condition.

Thistle caravan holiday homes have to be:
-   less than six years old
-   maintained and cleaned to a high standard
-   double-glazed throughout
-   heated throughout
-   connected to mains electricity, water and drainage.
-   fully equipped for self-catering holidays (including bed linen, but not always towels) 

What's on the park:  The parks differ, of course, but they may have a shop, restaurant, licensed bar, children’s play areas and games room. Some have leisure facilities such as a swimming pool or even a spa!  Some parks organise entertainment for children and grown-ups, during the summer months only or throughout the season.  Some parks welcome pets, but please tell the park when you book so that they can assign a pets-welcome caravan for your stay.

The season:  All the parks are open from April to the end of October.  Some open longer.

Short breaks are often available midweek or at weekends, especially in the autumn.

Accessibility:  A few parks have holiday homes which are wheelchair-accessible with assistance.  These are Belhaven, Thurston Manor, and Tantallon in East Lothian;  Mortonhall in Edinburgh;  and Southerness near Dumfries.  Please ask the parks for full details of accessibility in the holiday home and in the facilities on the park before you book to ensure that you get up-to-date information.  

Holiday homes for sale:  If you are thinking of buying your own caravan, ask the park of your choice if they have any for sale.  As a rough guide, the price for a new 3-bedroom caravan with central heating and double glazing will be about £30,000;  the same size, pre-owned and in good condition could be ca. £19,000.  If the caravan is for summer-use only and central heating and double-glazing are not needed, you can expect to pay about £3,000 less.  These prices are a rough estimate as of 2010.  Each park may have different offers.

 "Thistles" are top-class caravan parks with top-quality holiday homes.